BBC launches internet soap opera for English learners

Today BBC World Service is launching its first online soap opera, The Flatmates, which features a multi-cultural cast of young people who not only share a flat but also their everyday adventures studying, working, living and loving in the UK.

From the announcement:

Every week, visitors to the bbclearningenglish.com/flatmates site can read the latest drama from the flat, as well as listen to the episode online as many times at they like. The drama enables listeners to learn at their own pace. It is fun, informative and highly interactive, with learners voting to decide what happens next to the flatmates. A language point from the episode is highlighted, so visitors to the site can tell the BBC what aspects of grammar, vocabulary or pronunciation they’d like to learn, and a quiz tests their new knowledge.

The writer and producer of the series, Nuala O’Sullivan, created the new interactive drama to appeal to active learners who want to be in charge of their own learning:

"Online is a fantastic way of learning English because people can go at their own pace and interact with the web in a way they want to, at a time that suits them. We also know from experience that participation in learning helps make it fun and the more people participate, the more effective the learning.

"The Flatmates appeals to people who also want to learn English as it is lived and spoken, rather than as it is sometimes taught in more traditional text-books. It engages learners, enabling them to interact directly with the characters and to help shape the everyday life storylines through an online vote."

August 1, 2005 | BY JONATHAN DUBE